David Hayter Feels "A Little Ill" Following MGS V Snub

David Hayter has penned a rather touching missive regarding his feelings around missing out on Metal Gear Solid V, stating that if it were up to him, he'd happily play the role of Snake forever, and that the though of hearing someone else playing the role is making him feel "a little ill".

"I got in touch with someone involved in the production [of MGS V]," Hayter wrote. "We got together for lunch, and he told me that they 'wouldn’t be needing me' on this game. No reason, or explanation was given beyond that.

"And that was it.

"[...] If it were my choice, I would do this role forever. To hear anyone else’s voice coming from Snake’s battered throat, makes me a little ill, to be honest. But the truth is -- it’s not my choice. Any and all casting decisions are the sole purview of Hideo Kojima, and Konami itself. And that’s fair.

"And I’ll get by. I am not lacking for employment on any level. But I didn’t want anybody to think that I was intentionally abandoning them. And know that I will miss this job, and this character, very much."

While I echo the sentiments about Hayter, the change in voice actor was always on the cards in the long run in terms of Big Boss. It's a topic I bring up (SHAMELESSPLUG) in the latest Game Buzz podcast (/SHAMELESS PLUG) but here's the short version - if it turns out to be Richard Doyle's voice in the trailer, it's still canon.

Additionally, we only hear Snake / Big Boss speak after the coma in The Phantom Pain, which could (questionably) be used to explain the change in voice. In that regard, Hayter could still be brought back for Ground Zeroes. Besides, he and Kojima might be trolling us. It's wouldn't be the first time either have done so, after all...